Amendment would change chief justice selection

MADISON, Wis. — A proposed constitutional amendment would change the way that the Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice is selected.

The proposal is being circulated by Republican state Sen. Tom Tiffany.

Currently, the chief justice is based on seniority. The proposal would require that the chief justice instead be selected by a majority of the seven justices serving on the court. The election would happen every two years and the chief justice would be limited to no more than three consecutive terms.

Current Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has been on the court since 1976 and has been chief justice since 1996.

The measure would have to pass two consecutive legislative sessions and be approved by a vote of the people statewide before taking effect.